Happy Friday everybody. I hope this week treated you well, and if it didn't, I at least hope the weekend will :) I am sorry to say that this is the last chapter I will post for THE3 :( this story will be going on a hiatus for a while because I have a very hard time trying to write this story and full time editing the first THE book. Believe me, it is taking its time AND toll on me and right now it is more important than THE 3. But don't worry, after the first book is published and done for - I will resume writing this book.

But if I see that it has very few readers then it may be discontinued on Wattpad but published professionally. I haven't decided yet, but we'll see until then. Now, this is an extra long chapter and I hope you will all enjoy it and don't forget to leave a comment and tell me how you think about the story so far, and what is your favorite moment so far?

Enjoy!

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I wake up from the sun shining directly on my face, blinding me with its bright rays. I grumble to myself and turn to bury my face in Yuri's chest but wake up to find his side empty. I sit up groggily and find the room equally empty. Did I sleep for so long? I rub my eyes tiredly and feel so grateful that Yuri kept my sweatshirt on. I pull on my pants and walk out of the room only to hear shouting from the same room that Ivan and Data were fighting in yesterday.

Did I go back in time?

But that's not Data's voice but-

Yuri!

I run and try to open the door but it's locked. I growl and slam my fists against the door.

"Open the door!" I scream but they are either ignoring me or simply not hearing me from all the commotion they're causing. Do they want to be that way? Fine. I step back a few steps and focus my power on the doorknob and with a hard pull, I manage to break the entire knob and lock. I watch in awe how they fall to the floor with a 'clang' and the door is now unlocked. I smirk in satisfaction and push the door open with another push of my powers.

Both of them are staring at me and the broken lock in shock.

"Good morning, assholes," I smirk.

"Aleks?"

"How the fuck did you-"

"I'm the one speaking now," I interrupt them both. "What the hell is going on?"

"This psycho here just barged into the room and began blaming me for letting Data leave!" Ivan screams, poking Yuri in the chest. Seriously Ivan? Could you be more stupid?

The room becomes ten times hotter by that action alone.

"Yuri, calm down, love," I say softly. "Why did you enter the room like that?"

"It's his fucking fault that Data left. Everything was almost perfect, why did he have to destroy everything?" Yuri growls, staring heatedly into Ivan's eyes.

"He wanted to leave. I didn't make him leave," Ivan hisses, "he chose the school over me- us and left us alone to die in this shithole."

"Ivan..." I mumble, shaking my head at his obvious thoughts.

"What?" he kicks a pebble against the wall, hanging his head pitifully.

"You felt betrayed that he wanted to move away and start a new life without you," I say carefully, but Ivan just laughs.

"No, he had the stupid idea that the both of us move there together and try to find a house big enough to fit all of the Street Rats. And I told him how stupid that idea was because we have it perfectly fine here," he says with bemused laughter.

"Is it really, though?" I say lowly, both of them staring at me now.

"What are you-" Ivan begins.

"I mean, we're literally living in a rundown house with no electricity or heating. Without Yuri's powers, we could all have been dead by now from the cold. We constantly steal food and water to survive, and can barely show our faces outside in fear of being recognized." I tell them.

"Data only wanted the best for us," says Yuri. "He wants to build a better life for all of us and that's why he left." I give him a nod and move my gaze to Ivan who's standing there with slumped shoulders and a defeated look on his face.

"Then why did he leave me, too?" he sobs all of the sudden, his emotions and thoughts all over the place all of the sudden and I can't help but pick up a few.

If he truly loved me as he said, why was it so easy for him to leave me?

And why am I such a coward for not taking the step and leaving with him?

Building a new life for us, he said...

I sigh heavily and walk to Ivan, wrapping my short arm around his wide shoulders. Ivan cries quietly and nobody says anything for a while; mourning Data's absence.

"He will be back, just you wait," I whisper, and hope that my own words are true.

-

We exit the room and find many of the Street Rats scattered around the house but the mood is different, much more somber than usual. I feel suffocated and decide to go outside into the sunshine. I breathe in deeply and go for a short walk around the block.

I pull the hoodie over my head so I won't be recognized and walk by the many different stores the city has to offer. People are scurrying around, barely dodging me as they make their way down the street. They're either running for the bus or to buy food. My stomach rumbles loudly.

What I wouldn't do for a juicy sandwich right now?

I rub my stomach and ignore the hunger for now, because I know it will come back later, more horrible than now. I walk by a familiar restaurant and the smell of a seared steak has my mouth watering. We once had steak, Ivan was quick enough to grab a few from the supermarket and we lit a fire and cooked the meat directly. The first bite of the juicy meat is still embedded deeply in my memory.

"Imagine how fun it would be to cause a nuclear meltdown in all the reactors around Russia!" the voice giggles hysterically. It makes me stop in the middle of the street, shock coursing through my very being.

W-what?

"Why just Russia, and not the entire world? People are good-for-nothing and will destroy each other sooner or later."

What's happening?! Who is this?!

"B-but what if they catch me? They are always after me, trying to find me," the voice of a young boy sobs. He seems terrified... "I must kill them all before they kill me!" the boy sobs helplessly; his emotions exuding nothing but misery and...evil? How is that possible? The connection cuts off abruptly and I find myself leaning against the nearest wall – people staring at me incredulously. I cover my face and hold back the need to scream.

What's happening to me? Am I beginning to hear voices again?

I guess the last thing that should happen to me is going insane once and for all...

"Aleksandr?" I suddenly hear Alexandrei's frantic voice inside my head.

Alexandrei? What's happening?

"Voices inside my head, I'm scared." he whines and despite his frightened thoughts, I feel calmer. It means I'm not hearing the voices inside my head alone or going insane anytime soon.

It's all right, Alex, I heard them too. I try to calm him by sending calming waves through our connection.

"Y-you did? He sounds scary," he mumbles, and I can see it in my head how he's probably pouting adorably. Is it weird that I find Alexandrei adorable? I mean, he is my clone and looks almost identical to me.

Who cares.

Yes, and I have no idea what he's talking about but I'm sure it's nothing, I tell him casually.

"Yeah...probably..."

Did you tell Vladimir? I ask.

"No, too scared. I thought I was hearing them inside my head and that I was going crazy," and I hold back the need to laugh at his words. We think too much alike but we do share the same DNA so it's completely rational, I guess.

Yeah, me neither but now that you've heard them too...it means it's true.

"Uh-huh,"

Maybe we should wait and see what happens, I mean, nobody can activate all the nuclear reactors around Russia...right? Then why do I have such an uneasy feeling traveling through my body?

"Yeah, you're probably right!" he giggles and just like that, all of his worries vanish. I wish mine would vanish with the wind.

So, how is it going between you and Vladimir? I send him a suggestive emotion and laugh quietly to myself when he splutters and gasps for breath.

"F-fine! Why are you asking?"

Just curious, Alex. Can't I ask my own twin why he gets flustered whenever I ask him about the handsome scientist?

"Shush! It's not like that, Aleksandr!" he whines. "I will close the connection if you continue like this." I almost burst out in laughter at his words.

Okay, fine...

"How are things between you and Yuri then, hm?" he tries sending me seductive thoughts but fails miserably because he is literally like a child at heart.

Good, I answer simply.

"Aleks, I miss you!" he whines again. "When can we meet?" he draws out the last word.

Whenever Vladimir finds it safe enough, Alex, I remind him.

"You should ask him!" he says quickly.

What?

"I can connect his mind through mine and you can speak with him, do you want to try?" says Alexandrei quickly.

Alex, don't hurt yourself, I remind him because this guy sometimes forgets that using our powers too much can damage our brain; maybe even permanently.

"It'll be okay," he reassures me and then I can feel a weird sensation at the back of my head. And later-

"What are you saying Alexandrei?"

Vladimir?! I send him quickly, surprised at hearing his voice so close; like he's the one speaking inside my mind.

"Aleksandr?!" he shrieks and that makes me laugh loudly. The people surrounding me eyes me suspiciously and I feel very exposed all of the sudden. I need to find somewhere secluded where we can talk privately. I make my way to the bridge where I always go when I want to be alone. Thankfully, during the autumn and winter days, not many people visit this place due to the cold – even though I find it much more beautiful during the cold climate.

It's not too far and I can hear Vladimir's frantic thoughts all the way there and I try desperately not to laugh out loud. He's clearly trying to understand what's happening and is accusing Alexandrei of witchcraft. I reach the beginnings of the bridge and remember what happened.

If Yuri knew I came here alone, he would have my head...

"I can completely understand that," says Vladimir. "And how can I possibly hear you?! This isn't scientifically correct."

Not everything is explained by science, Vladimir, I remind him. I scan my surroundings and find a few people walking through the serene nature while enjoying the cold autumn days. I look out across the water and breathe in the chilly air deeply; feeling it fill my lungs completely before I exhale.

"Most things are, though, probably this as well..."

Vladimir when can we see each other? I miss Alexandrei, and maybe even you, I tease him and chuckle at his splutters.

"I'm not entirely sure, what if-"

These what if's are not letting us see each other. You have been hiding for three years, what's next?

"I don't want them to find Alexandrei," Vladimir says softly. "You don't get it. If they find me, they will kill me but if he is found then...he will be nothing but a weapon and used for experiments."

Like me...

"Like you..."

I sigh heavily, rubbing my face harshly. Why can't anything just come simply? Why must everything in my life be so complicated?

"But I promise we will meet soon. Alexandrei has been nagging my mind close to insanity," I chuckle and can only imagine Alex pouting at Vladimir who's trying to be the mature adult here.

You're not the enemy here, Vladimir, I remind him.

"It feels like it sometimes, especially while keeping you and Alexandrei away from each other," he tells me, his feelings shadowed with sadness and regret.

You're only doing what's best for us, and you did save both of us from imminent deaths, so...

"I hope so," he chuckles lowly but suddenly his panic spikes up. "W-what's happening to Alex? He's having a strong nosebleed?!"

That stupid...just tell him to close the connection and I 'll contact him later on. Take care, Vladimir!

"Take care, Aleksandr. You stupid boy, turn off your powers right now!" is the last thing I hear before the connection is shut and my thoughts are only to myself again. I told Alex that opening a three-way connection is dangerous for his health, but does he listen? No.

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